Reflecting device



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.1. c. HAGGART, JR

REFLECTING DEVICE Filed June 26, 1931 June 20, 1933.

JOHN C. HAGGART, J R, OF ALMA, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, TO RAF-SIGNS Fatented Ems 20, 1933 mural) stares PATENT I oFmcE COMORATION OF DELAWARE anrnnc'rms DEVICE Application filed June 26,

The reflecting device of this invention is adapted to be used for signs of various kinds which are illuminated by reflected light from some extraneous source, such as a traffic sign which may, for example, display the, word Stop, although the reflecting device of this invention is also well adapted for various other kinds of signs. Among the objects of the invention is to provide for mounting one or any desired number of similar reflecting units, each of which includes a suitable lens,

' on a suitable support, such as a plate, with drawing, in which the front end of the'lens exposed at the front of such plate or the like. Other objects of the invention are economy of manufacture and convenience of installation and replacement of the units. In this connection, further objects of the invention are simplicity of construction and to provide for firmly and securelyeholding the reflecting unit in place on its support, while at the same time providing for its quick and easy removaland replacement. Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear. For carrying out these several objects of the in vention in a practical manner, the invention includes various features of construction and combinations of parts as willappear from the following description. One embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing will now be described and thereafter the invention will be pointed out in claims, reference now being had to the to rear section through a reflecting device embodying the invention and showing only a single reflecting unit, but broken away at the sides to indicate that any desired number of such units may be similarlymounted in the complete device;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section as viewed from the front of the device taken on a plane in- Fig. 1 is a front 1 dicated by the horizontal line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 somewhat reduced, but showing an outer side view of the reflecting unit in a detached position;

Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 2 on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the reflecting unit in an intermediate phase drawing.

1931. Serial No; 546,929.

of its attachment to or detachment from its support;

Fig. 6 is a section similar to Fig. 4 on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and

, Fig. 7 is an enlarged broken detail of Fig. 4. While in the accompanying drawing, for purposes of illustration, only a single light reflecting unit is shown as mounted upon a supporting plate 1, it is to be understood of course that any desired number of such units may be similarly mounted upon this plate and arranged thereon relatively to one another according to any desired configuration, thereby to provide a sign of any desired wording or pattern, although in some instances only a single reflecting unit might be employed. An enclosing housing for the unit is desirably provided and is shown in Fig. 1 as comprising, besides the front plate 1, a rear plate 2 and amarginal or peripheral wall 3 which it is to be understood extends CORPORATION, A

completely around the edges of the front wall be made in one piece with and in the form of a flange on either the front plate 1 or the rear plate 2, probably in most instances more desirably on the latter, and the two parts of the enclosing casing thus formed may be de-' tachably secured together in any convenient way, as is well understood in the art, for example, by means of bolts or screws (not shown). -The illustrated means according to the invention for detachably mounting the light reflecting units on the supporting plate 1, together with features of construction of such units by reason of which they are adaptedto be thus mounted, will now be described. It is to be understood of course that various changes in details of construction may be made within the scope of the claims and in accordance with the intended meaning of the following particular description of the embodiment of the invention shown in the In accordance with the invention, a holding device is provided for detachably mounting the unit entirely upon the front plate 1 to be supported thereby. The illustrated holding deviceis in the form of a generally cylindrical or annular shell open at both ends and comprising a ring 4 which may be formed from a section of tubing of suitable resilient metal, such as brass or steel. This ring 4 has a cylindrically reduced front end portion forming a flat right angular annular shoulder portion 5 and a neck 6 which fits snugly in a circular aperture 7 in the front plate 1, with the shoulder 5 abutting against the back of this plate. The neck 6 is originally formed to extend straight out in cylindrical shape beyond the front face of the plate 1 and then this projecting end portion of the neck is flanged over outwardly upon the front face of this plate there to form a retaining bead 8, as shown in the drawing, so that thereby the ring 4 is firmly and securely mounted upon the supporting platel.

Desirably, the front end portion of the ring 4 is slitted at a plurality of places and is shown as provided with three equally spaced slits 9, a narrow strip of the metal being cut away in forming these slits, as is shown in the drawing. Thesev slits 9 extend straight inward or rearward through the bead 8, neck 6 and shoulder 5, into the forward portion of the body of the ring 4. These slits 9 provide resiliency in the neck 6 which assures its fitting closely in the aperture 7 and also these slits facilitate the removal of the ring 4 from the supporting plate 1 in case for any reason that should be necessary or desired. It will be noted that the flat shoulder-forming circumferential portion 5 also forms a rearwardly-facing annular inner shoulder within the ring 4.

The inner or rear end of the ring 4 has formed thereon an inturned flange 10 which is rather sharply inclined, substantially at an angle of in a forward direction, so that thereby the rear face of the flange 10 provides 45 a cam surface while the front of this flan e 10 is not only abrupt but in fact forms a hoo The ring 4 is .provided with a plurality of rearwardly opening slits 11, with portions of the metal cut away, these slits extending forward to the plane of the rear or inner ends of the front slits 9, these slits 11 being shown as three in number equidistantly circumferentially spaced between the front slits 9. These rear slits 11 open through the inturned rear flange 10in the form of inwardly flaring notches 12 in this flange 10. Thus the portions of the ring 4 between the slits 11 constitute rearwardly projecting transversely arcuate resilient prongs which are yieldable in radial planes. The inclined ends formed on the flange 10 by the flaring notches 12 at the open ends of the slits 11 form cam surfaces on this divided flange 10.

The particular light reflecting unit illus- 66 trated in the drawing for carrying out the invention comprises a lens 13 which is of the usual circular shape transversely or in planes normal to its axis. The front end of this lens is convex and the central portion of its rear end is also shown as convex, with a surrounding narrow flat portion. Throughout the major portion of its axial length this lens 13 is shown as tapering forwardly to the periphery of its convex front end. However, this lens is shown as provided with a cylindrically reduced rear end portion 14 which provides a rearwardly facing peripheral shoulder 15 in a plane normal to the axis of the lens. A concave reflector 16 is spaced rearwardly from the rear end of the lens 13 and is shown as in the form of'a sheet metal cup, the forward portion of the cylindrical wall 17 of which fits over the reduced cylindrical rear end portion 14 of the lens and there having an out-turned peripheral flange 18 which abuts against the lens shoulder 15.

The rear portion of the lens 13 and the cup formed by the reflector 16 are enclosed by an outer cap having an enlarged fm'wardly tapering front end portion 19 in close gripping engagement with the adjacent forwardly tapering portion of the lens 13. The closed rear end portion of this outer cap is reduced on circular lines to provide a peripheral shoulder-forming portion 20 or offset in a plane normal to the axis of the lens 13. The inner shoulder formed by this offset 20 in the cap is in engagement with the peripheral flange 18 of the reflector cup. In order to obtain a firm and safe grip of this outer cap upon the lens 13, as well as upon the flange 18 and wall 17 of the reflect-or cup adjacent to the lens, a thin paper cushion 21 is interposed between the front edge portion- 19 of this outer cap and the tapering body of the lens 13 and is shown as extending rearward to the rear end of the lens. The tapering front flange portion 19 of this outer cap may originally be made cylindrical and then spun inward upon and to grip the lens 13 through the intermediary of the interposed paper 21.

'The rear reduced portion 22 of this outer cap is provided with three straight outwardly rounded ridges 23 which are shown as indented outwardly from the otherwise cylindrical wall 22. These ridges 23 are radially flush or in line with and extend rearwardly from the rearwar'dly facing shoulder formed by the flat peripheral. portion 20 and are shown as thus extending entirely to the closed rear end-of this outer cap. These ridges 23 constitute cams and also serve another purpose, as will hereinafter clearly appear. It will also be noted that the forward end of the tapering lens-gripping portion 19 of the cap forms a shoulder which is spaced rearwardly from the front end of the forwardly tapering. body portion of the lens 13. This outer cap, which may be formed from suitable till reraeai sheet metal, is shown as having a flat rear or bottom wall 2%.

The manner in which the above described unit is detachably mounted upon the front plate 1 in cooperating relation with the hereinbefore described holding device formed by the ring 4, with the front end of the lens 13 exposed at the front of the plate 1 through the aperture 7 therein, will now be described. This unit is shown as thus held in its normal mounted position on the supporting plate 1 in Figs. 1 and 2. As there shown, the forward portion 19 of the cap is snugly disposed within the holding ring 4, with theinner larger circumference of this cap portion 19 in engagement with the resilient prongs of this ring and with the hooks formed on the ends of these prongs by the inturned flange 10 in engagement with the rearwardly facing shoulders formed by the flat portions 20 between the cam ridges 23 and with these ridges disposed in the notches 12 of the ring flange 10..

The front end portion of the lens 13 projects forwardly through the neck 6 with a fairly snug fit, while the shoulder 25 formed by the front edge of the lens-engaging cap portion 19 is disposed immediately at the rear of the rearwardly facing shoulder formed by the flat annular portion on the ring 4. '1 he slight spacing which appears in the drawing between the edge 25 and the ring portion 5, and similarly between the inner portion of the neck 6 and the adjacent portion of the lens 13, are somewhat exaggerated for clarity of illustration and in practice may be substantially negligible. It will be obvious from the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawing that the unit will be securely held in place without looseness and restrained against free or idle movemerits.

in order to detach and remove the unit from its holding device it is only necessary to grasp the projecting rear end portion of this unit and give it a slight partial rotation, for example, to the position thereof illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, and then this unit may be freely withdrawn rearwardly, as indicated by the position thereof shown in Flgs. 3 and l. When the unit is thus rotated in either direction, one of the inclined cam faces of each of the ridges 23 is brought into oper-' ating engagement with the adjacent inclined cam face formed on the flange by the notches 12, thereby to force the resilient prongs of the ring 1 radially outward until the flange 10 is clear of and releases the rearwardly facing shoulder formed by the flat cap portion 15 and so that these cam ridges 23 may then guide the flange 10 beyond this shoulder portion over the forwardly tapering cap portion 19 as the unit is withdrawn, as will be clear from Figs. 5 and 6 taken in connection with Figs. 3 and a.

lhe unit may be originally installed or subsequently installed in making replacements, by substantially a reverse operation. That is, this unit may be simply inserted from the rear into its holding device formed by the ring 4, as is also correctly indicated in Figs. 3 and 4:, being then pushed forward to the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, followed by a slight rotation of the unit so that its cam ridges 23 will be brought into radial align ment with the cam notches 12, whereupon the resiliente prongs of the ring 4 will snap the flange 10 into engagement with the shoulder-forming flat portion 20- of the unit, which will then be in the attached condition shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In thus pushing the unit forward from the position thereof shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 5, it will be clear that the rear face of the inclined flange 10 forms a cam which cooperates with the cam surface formed by the cap portion 19, thereby to force the flange 10, together with the resilient prongs by which this flange is carried, radially outward, this construction thus forming a snap-catch device. lin thus installing the unit, should the latter happen to be in or should it initially be purposely placed in a rotative position in which its cam ridges 23 are in alignment with the cam notches 12. the cam flange portions 10 will be snapped immediately to their engaged holding posi tion shown in Figs. 1 and 2, merely through straight forward movement imparted to the unit, without any rotative movement in order to eflect this final engagement.

The cam ridges 23, by reason of their rearward extension, provide convenient and eflective fingergrips in manipulating the unit, particularly for rotating it, as above described. In Fig. 1 the rear plate 2 of the enclosing housing for the units is shown as spaced from the flat rear or bottom wall 2 1 of the unit, in order to make it clear that the unit is supported altogether on the front plate 1. However, it is of course unnecessary to the carrying out of the invention that any such spacingeshould be provided, and the plate 2 may thus spaced more or less or it may be in contact with the unit wall 2 1, as may be desired.

As is clearly shown in the enlarged view of Fig. 7, the interposed paper cushion or bushing 21 desirably comprises two thicknesses or plies a and b which may be conveniently formed as separate circumferential pieces each extending once around with its edges in adjacent or abutting relation and with the joint formed between the edges of one arranged diametrically opposite to that of the other, as is shown in Fig. 7.

lln manufacturing the unit it is desirable that the reflector or mirror 16 may be located in different units at sli htly diflerent or vary ing distances axially rom the inner end of the lens 13, in order thereby to compensate 3 flange 18 of the reflector cup and the shoulder of the lens, and thence surrounding the rear reduced portion 14 of the lens in the construction shown (Fig. 1). This shim or washer 26 may be of the required thickness;- l0 either greater or less than shown in the drawing, for thereby correctly relatively positioning the lens 13 and the reflector 16 in an axial direction. This shim or washer 26 may be of any suitable material, for example, lead or paper. This washer also provides a further factor of safety to the gripped lens 13.

I is obvious that various modifications may be made in the construction shown in the drawing and above particularly described, within the principle and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. In a reflecting device, the combination of a reflecting unit including a lens, a main supporting member for the unit'adapted to expose the lens at the front of such member, and a snap-catch device for attaching the unit to such member including a resilient snap member which is resiliently yieldable in a radial plane relatively to the axis of the lens,

said snap-catch device further including co-- acting cam surfaces arranged to provide for the automatic snap engagement of its snap member by the movement of the said unit axially of the unit relatively to the said supporting member for thereby attaching the unit to this supporting member.

2. In a reflecting device, the combination of a reflecting unit including a lens which is circular in planes normal to its axis, a main supporting member for the un1t, and a holding device for detachably mounting the un1t on said member with the lens exposed at one side of this member, the said olding device comprising a tubular metal ring secured at one of its ends to said member and slitted inwardly from the edge of its other end to provide a plurality of at least two res lient holding prongs within which the un1t 1s recelved, the said prongs and unit havlnginterengaging portions provided with coacting cam surfaces by reason of which these prongs may be caused to snap automatically into holding engagement with the unit by movement of the unit relatively thereto for thereby holding the unit on the supporting member, the said prongs and unit also being provided with other coacting cam surfaces by reason of whicha reverse movement imparted to the unit will disengage the said holding prongs therefrom so as thereby to permit the removal of the unit fromthe said supporting mem-I ber. I f

3. In areflecting device, the combination of a supporting plate having a circular aperture, the unit being provided circumferem' tiallythereof with a corresponding number of shoulders which face rearwardly from a plane normal to the axis of its lens and the ends of the said prongs being turned inward to form flanges shaped to have positive engagement behind said shoulders through automatic inward movement of the resilient prongs when said shoulders are brought to the correct position relatively to these flanged ends, the ends of the said flanges being circumferentially spaced and the unit being provided with radial cams flush with its said shoulders to' be positioned circumferentially in the spaces between the flanges on the ends of said prongs and to have engagement with these flanges to release the latter from the said shoulders upon rotative movement being imparted to the unit so that thereby the unit may be Withdrawn from the said holding device.

4. In a reflecting device, the combination of a supporting plate having a circular aperture therein, a reflecting unit including a lens which is circular in planes normal to its axis, means to prevent the passage of the unit entirely through the said aperture, and a holding device for mounting the unit on the said plate with the lens exposed at the front thereof through the said aperture, the said holding device comprising a tubular metal ring secured at one ofits ends to the plate and projecting rearwardly therefrom around its said aperture, the said ring being slitted inwardly from its other end to provide a circumferential plurality of more than two resilient arcuate holding prongs within which the unit is received from the rear, the unit being provided circumferentially thereof with a corresponding number of arcuate shoulders which face rearwardly from a plane normal to the axis of its lens and the ends of the said prongs being turned inwardly to form arcuate flanges shaped to have positive engagement behind said shoulders through automatic snap action when the unit is brought to the correct position relatively to these flanges, the circumferential ends of theseflanges being shaped to flare apart in circumferentially spaced relation to form cam surfaces and -the unit being provided with radially projecting circumferentially rounded cam ridges to be positioned in the said spaces between the flanges on the ends lid re erral the rear end portion of this cap being reduced to form a shoulder which faces rearwardly and this reduced portion of the cap being provided with a plurality of rounded cam ridges which are radially flush with and extend rearwardly from the rearwardly facing shoulder, a supporting plate for the unit having a circular aperture therein, a tubular metal ring having a reduced front end portion forming a'shoulder and a neck to fit snugly in said aperture with said shoulder against the rear face of the plate and with the end of such neck portion flanged over.

against the front face of the plate, the'rear end of said ring being provided with. an in turned forwardly inclined flange and having ill?) a plurality of forwardly extending deep slits therein and with notches in said flange at the said slits, the said ring forming a holding device for detachably mounting the unit on the supporting plate with the lens exposed at the front thereof with the front end of the lens projecting through said neck and having its forward movement limited by the front end of said cap at the rear of the shoulder formed by said neck, the said rear inturned flange on the ring being engageable with the rearwardly facing shoulder on the cap of the unit for thereby holding the unit in place and being disengageable therefrom by said cam ridges on the cap upon rotative movement of the unit so as thereby to pro vide for the removal of the unit from the supporting plate.

6, iln a reflecting device, a reflecting unit comprising a transversely circular lens having a forwardly tapering front end portion and having a cylindrically reduced rear end portion providing a rearwardly facing pe- Gil ripheral shoulder in a plane normal to the axis of the lens, a reflector in the form of a cup fitting over the reduced cylindrical rear end portion of the lens and having an outturned peripheral flange abutting against the adjacent shoulder on the lens, and an outer cap enclosing the reflector cup and the rear portion of the lens having an inner shoulder in engagement with the reflector flange and having a front portion in close gripping engagement with the ad] acent forwardly tapering portion of the lens.

7. in a reflecting device, means for mount.- ing a reflectlng unit comprising a supporting plate having a circular aperture therein, and

a tubular metal supporting ring for the unit having its front end portion reduced to form a shoulder and a neck passing snugly through said aperture and flanged over at the front of the plate with said shoulder at the back thereof, the rear end portion of this ring being provided with a plurality of deep forwardly extending slits forming resilient rearwardly projecting prongs, the ends of these prongs being provided with automatically engaglng snap catches.

8. In a reflecting device, means for mounting a reflecting un1t comprising a supporting plate having a circular aperture therein, and a tubular metal supporting ring for the unit having its front end portion reduced to form a shoulder and a neck passing snugly through said aperture and flanged over at the front of the plate with said shoulder at the'back thereof, the rear end portion of. this ring being provided with a plurality of deep forwardly extending. slits forming resilient rearwardly projecting prongs, the ends of these prongs being provided with inclined inward projections forming snap catches.

9. In a reflecting device, a reflecting unit having a front portion which is circular in planes normal to its axis and having its rear end portion reduced to form a rearwardly facing shoulder, said reduced rear endportion being provided with a circumferential series of ridges radially flush with said shoulder and extending rearwardly therefrom to the rear end of the unit.

10. The invention defined in claim 6, in which a reduced portion extends rearwardly from the shoulder of the cap, the said rear reduced portion of the cap being provided with a circumferential series of rounded ridges radially flush with said outer shoulder and extending rearwardly on said rear reduced portion,

ill. in a reflecting device, a reflecting unit comprising a transversely circular forwardly tapering lens, a metal cap enclosing "the rear portion of the lens and having a front portion in close gripping relation with the forwardly tapering portion of the lens, and a multiple-ply paper cushion interposed" and gripped between the forward portion of the cap and the tapering lens, each said ply being a separate piece extending circumferentiallyaround and its ends breaking joints with a clrcumferentially adjacent ply.

12. The invention defined in claim 6, in

combination with an annular shim inter- 13. In a reflecting device, the combination comprising a supporting member for supporting a reflecting unit, a holdin device mounted on said supporting mem er and having a plurality of resilient prongs extending rearwardly of the supporting member, and a reflecting unit including a lens, the

prongs of the holding device and the reflecting unit having complementary interengaging projections and recesses cooperating to position the reflecting unit with respect to the 10 supporting member and with the lens thereof lexposed at the front of the supporting memer. 7 In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my signature.

JOHN C, HAGGART, JR. 

